We have all heard some pretty ridiculous old wives tales before; Not just relating to beauty and skin care, but in general as kids growing up. “Don’t sit and watch TV too close”, “Don’t pull funny faces or the wind will change”….you get the idea.
At Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics, we get to hear some pretty interesting ones on a day to day basis, and so we thought we would share these with you!
1) Shaving causes more hair growth – FALSE
We hear this one a lot, and both men and women both seem to fall victim of this myth! By shaving, you are neither increasing or decreasing the number of hair follicles in the skin. If this were true, all men would have a quick cure for baldness – simply keep shaving! Unfortunately excess and unwanted hair is to a great degree controlled by genetics and hormonal factors. Shaving does not have any affect on this.
2) Anti-wrinkle creams do not work – FALSE
Whilst there are many snake oil products out there particularly in the beauty and skin care industry, there are many quality products which do help to hydrate, and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you are not sure about which products you can trust, make a complimentary skin consultation with one of our therapists who will be able to suggest the right products for your skin type which will give your skin amazing results.
3) Eating chocolate and pizza causes acne and breakouts – TRUE
Despite plenty of mis-information out there, eating these types of foods can increase the chances of your skin breaking out. The reason for this lies in the “bad guy” of the dietary fat family – Saturated Fat. These types of foods as well as many animal products contain this type of fat. Saturated fat has gotten a bad wrap in the media for its supposed propensity to increase the risk of heart disease and cause rapid weight gain. While the jury is still out on this fact, there is evidence to suggest that consuming large amounts of saturated fat does aggravate the sebaceous glands of the skin. The sebaceous glands are what control the amount of oil that the skin produces. Increasing oil production in the skin does increase the chances of acne and breakouts. Ladies, unfortunately this means we need to cut back a little of our favourite friends and eat these foods in moderation.
4) Washing your face with cold water reduces the size of pores – FALSE
Unfortunately there is not much we can do to change the size of our pores. Washing with cold water does make it harder to clean pores, and that is why we suggest cleansing with warm water in order to achieve the best results. Regular microdermabrasion treatments for example can really assist in keeping pores clean leaving your skin smooth, fresh and revitalised.
5) The more expensive the product, the better it is – FALSE
Like the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. While this can be true with many things in life, this is not necessarily the case with skin care. The price tag of particular skin care does not always equate to a premium quality product. The best and most important thing to look for is the formulation and ingredients found in the product. Not all of us are skin care experts though, so if you need assistance and some advice getting the right product for your skin type, please see one of our therapists who can assess your skin and devise the best skin care routine just for you.
6) Laser hair removal is more expensive than waxing or shaving – FALSE
These days laser hair removal, particularly permanent removal using quality medical grade lasers has become very affordable. Gone are the days where laser hair removal was only available and affordable by the rich and famous. We have some amazing packages available for laser hair removal and guarantee the best pricing in Melbourne using the Candela Gentlelase system.
7) Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure only and serves no purpose – FALSE
While laser hair removal is often regarded as a luxury and cosmetic procedure, the simple fact is that there are many serious medical conditions that can be cured and treated by the use of laser hair removal. One such condition which is very common in men particularly is Pilonidal Disease. This condition occurs when excess hair growth becomes ingrown deep in the skin and can cause a great amount of discomfort, embarrassment and pain. This condition is extremely common in men, and often goes untreated due to embarrassment and wanting to avoid the subject. Laser hair removal particularly with the lasers that we use at Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics quickly and painlessly resolve issues relating to ingrown hairs and pilonidal cysts.
8) Washing your face with soap makes your skin dry and flaky – TRUE
Washing your face with soap can have a negative affect on your skin, particularly if you use soap on your face. Often, these soaps contain ‘Parabens’ which are foaming agents and these chemicals really dry out the skin leaving your with a dull and flaky appearance. For best results, always use a quality product such as Skinstitut’s Glycolic Cleanser which is Paraben free and leaves your skin revitalised and fresh.
9) Squeezing pimples and black heads can leave you with scarring and pitted skin – TRUE
Squeezing and aggravating black heads and pimples can lead to trauma to the skin, causing permanent scarring of the face and other areas of the body. Although it is hard sometimes to resist the urge, it is best to cleanse the skin and perform regular microdermabrasion treatment in order to keep acne and pimples at bay. These regular treatments are pain free and do not cause any trauma to the skin, leaving you with an effective acne treatment without the use of harsh medication and pharmaceutical drugs.
10) Applying make up every day can cause oily, bad skin – TRUE & FALSE
While it is true that applying an inferior quality makeup can cause congestion and oily skin, the best thing to do is get yourself a quality mineral make up product. Mineral makeup allows your skin to naturally breathe and feeds your skin with nutrients instead of blocking your pores and trapping dirt beneath your skin. At Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics, we have a dedicated make up booth with mineral make up available in stock for you to try for yourself. Visit us and come and see the difference that we can make to your skin!